Last year, Jesús's book on the city's literary connections, Un paseo literario por Segovia, was published by a local bookshop, Entrelibros. I used it to guide me and to learn about Antonio Machado, the most famous writer to live in the city, as well as John of the Cross and Azorín, and the Arcipreste de Hita, a cleric who visited in the 14th century and bedded half the local women while researching his Libro del Buen Amor. "He was the Chaucer or Boccaccio of Segovia, mixing religion and raunchiness," Jesús told me as he showed me the plaque honouring the priest at the northern end of the city's famous Roman aqueduct.

Ubicado justo debajo del acueducto, el Mesón de Cándido es toda una institución para comer esta especialidad. El Cochinillo que se sirve en este establecimiento, recomendado por la guía MICHELIN, tiene fama de ser tan crujiente y tierno que se puede cortar con el borde de un plato. De ahí, el curioso ritual del personal de sala, que primero trincha el Cochinillo con un plato y luego lo estrella contra el suelo.

The most agreeable trip is the drive north over the pine‐covered mountains to Segovia, with one of Europe's most beautifully‐set castles, the Roman aque duct, and lunch at Meson de Candido, which serves the best lamb and suckling pig in Spain. From there you drive through spectacularly gaunt countryside to Avila, the great walled hill town. You can come back to Madrid that night or spend the night at Avila.

Beginning life as an inn in the 18th century, Cándido was declared a national monument in 1941, and today displays photos of famous patrons including Ernest Hemingway, Salvador Dalí, and Princess Grace. The cochinillo is the star; partridge stew and roast lamb are also memorable, especially on cold afternoons.Ask for a table overlooking the aqueduct, just a few feet away, and be sure to book ahead.

As well as traditional museums like the Antonio Machado House-Museum (the famous writer lived here from 1919 to 1932), surprising new spaces are emerging, like La Cárcel, a former prison which now offers exhibitions, film seasons, microtheatre, and so on.If you want something traditional for lunch, the most famous local dish is suckling pig in the legendary Mesón Cándido or in some new restaurant contributing a touch of modernity. One last piece of advice. Around 10 kilometres from the city, you can take an excursion we recommend highly: La Granja de San Ildefonso, with a Royal Palace and spectacular gardens.

Back in Segovia city, we followed Ines’s recommendation and had a sunset drink at Cafetería de la Química, a no-frills spot with a stunning outdoor terrace overlooking the Alcázar. Still full from lunch, we decided to skip dinner and opted for dessert at Mesón de Cándido, which sits directly next to the aqueduct and is arguably the most famous cochinillo restaurant in town. We settled in and ordered two glasses of Verdejo and one ponche segoviano, the region’s most emblematic pastry, filled with layers of egg yolk cream and blanketed with marzipan.

Made following strict feeding and cooking rules, this specialty can often be found in the menus of local restaurants like Jose Maria Restaurant, considered on the best places for suckling pig in the country, Meson don Jimeno that also adds bean stew and delicious homemade desserts to your Segovian feast, and Meson de Candido that garnishes the tasty cochinillo with superb views of the aqueduct. Don’t leave Segovia without savoring a Spanish omelet at one of the many restaurants in Plaza Mayor, Segovia’s main square.

That evening, Maureen took me to Meson de Candido, her favorite restaurant for cochinillo asado, the acclaimed local dish of roast suckling baby pig. Meson de Candido’s multi–generational, family–run restaurant, located right next to the Aqueduct (in the Plaza del Azoguejo), dates from 1905. The late founder, Candido, started the “flashy” tradition of presenting piglets he had just cooked and then cutting them ceremoniously with the edge of a plate – demonstrating to diners just how tender his cochinillo was!

The most iconic local restaurant is the Meson de Candido on the Plaza de Azoguejo, right at the foot of the aqueduct. The late owner, Candido, was one of Spain’s foremost chefs and the restaurant has maintained the high standards he promoted. There is a fine open-air terrace with views of the aqueduct and a wine list featuring more than 350 Denomination of Origin wines – but you advised to book a table in advance, especially in the summer or at weekends throughout the year.

Uno de los mejores mesones donde comer cochinillo en Segovia cerca del acueducto es el Mesón de Cándido. El restaurante fue fundado por Cándido López, una persona clave en la cultura de la ciudad, puesto que puso el cochinillo y a Segovia en el mapa de la gastronomía española. Inventó la tradición de romper el plato contra el suelo, incluso pionero en poner de moda los modorros (jarras de barro de recuerdo) y el conjuro de prosa rimada mientras se corta el cochinillo.

Si el cochinillo asado de Segovia ha alcanzado mimbres internacionalistas es por el trabajo que Cándido López, nativo de Coca, desarrolló durante seis décadas en un mesón donde su efigie todo lo domina. Hoy es su nieto –también Cándido– quien perpetúa un legado que se ha convertido en liturgia culinaria, partiendo los cochinillos asados con el plato, tal y como el patriarca ideó. No obstante, de esta casa no salen solo cochinillos.

Quizás, con permiso de otro par de ilustres restaurantes, el restaurante que con más potencia puso en el mapa al cochinillo asado de Segovia sea el Mesón de Cándido. Levantado hace más de un siglo, sería Cándido López el que estuvo ejerciendo aquí un magisterio de sesenta años que le valió, entre otros títulos, el de Mesonero Mayor del Reino. Dónde comer en Segovia si no te gusta el cochinillo (pero a tus acompañantes les flipa)

A while back Le Continental visited Mesón de Cándido in the beautiful city of Segovia, Spain. While it is a classic that dates back to 1931, Casa Duque is the oldest restaurant in the city offering cochinillo asado, roasted suckling pig, which the city of Segovia is famous for. Le Continental has discovered that Casa Duque and Mesón de Cándido are linked somehow, though it isn’t mentioned on the restaurants’ web sites.

Address: Plaza del Azoguejo 5, 40001, SegoviaPhone: +34 921 425 911 | +34 921 428 103Email: candido@mesondecandido.esAverage Price: €€€. If there’s one iconic place in Segovia, it is Mesón de Cándido, known not only for its excellent traditional Segovian cuisine but also for its remarkable location next to the stunning Roman Aqueduct. Do you want to taste the authentic and traditional Segovian suckling pig?

Mesón De Cándido: located in Plaça Azoguejo (by the aqueduct), this is one of the restaurants that serves the “best” roast suckling pig!. If the whole table opts for this dish, the owner comes out to serve it in the traditional way: cut it using the edge of a plate, which is then thrown on the ground!. A real spectacle as well as a treat for the taste buds.

The two most famous places to eat suckling pig in Segovia are Mesón de Cándido (in Plaza del Ozoguejo) and Restaurante Jose María (Calle Cronista Lecea 11, one of the streets branching off from the Plaza Mayor). Both are good and equally expensive (40-45€ per person). The first is a classic, though the latter is gaining quickly in popularity.

#MarchGoodPlaces2025 When you come to Serbia, Spain, you must visit the Mesón de Cándido roast suckling pig restaurant to feast on it. Located under the aqueduct, the Mesón de Cándido roast suckling pig restaurant is a century-old restaurant and is quite famous locally. The most special thing is that the boss personally cuts the suckling pig.

The Meson de Candido” is the oldest and the most famous restaurant in Segovia. The two most famous and popular of Segovia products have always been the lamb and the baby pig, cooked in wood-fired oven and roasted, although Castilian garlic soup, La Granja bean stew, trout from Valsaín and a variety of game stews are also worth mentioning.

Discover the traditional Segovian gastronomy, a culinary heritage that has been preserved and perfected for more than a century by the Cándido family. From our emblematic roast suckling pig to the delicious judiones de la Granja. Each of our dishes reflects the authenticity and flavor that have made Segovia a gastronomic reference.

Right beside the base of the aqueduct is a famous restaurant Meson de Candido where we were served a traditional meal from the area of Segovia suckling pig. Next, we took a great walking tour to the aqueduct and visited at Alcázar de Segovia castle. This castle inspired Walt Disney to create Cinderella‘s castle at Disneyworld.

De cómo un animalejo de patas cortas y alma lechosa ha llegado tan lejos de la mano de los tres restaurantes segovianos de los que siempre se sale feliz: Casa Duque, Cándido y José María. En este artículo encontrarás razones más que convincente para saber dónde tendrías que ir para comer el mejor cochinillo de Segovia.

Had we had time, we would then have finished this amazing day at Meson Candido which is the most famous restaurant in town – known to do the best suckling piglet around but unfortunately, it was shut when we went and wasn’t going to open for a few hours – just another reason to go back in the future I guess.

Its excellent location near the Aqueduct gives you the chance to enjoy a view of the monument if dining upstairs. Pictures and paintings of famous figures that have visited the restaurant adorn its walls. In addition to the restaurant, there is also the option to stay at Candido Hotel.

Mesón Cándido stands out in the heartland of what is known as the ‘Castilian Roast’––famous for dishes like Cochinillo. The owner of this restaurant made a name for himself with the unusual and revolutionary method he used on the cochinillo, using plates to slice the meat.

Mesón de Cándido offers the best views of the aqueduct whether you are dining inside or outside. The restaurant has become known as a celebrity destination and puts on a smashing show every time a cochinillo is cut with a plate – plate smashing show to be more specific.

Meson de Candido: Perhaps the longest-standing restaurant, since 1884. Reflected in all kinds of paintings, medals, and photos of famous figures in history. The location near the Aqueduct is excellent, and you can also dine upstairs with a view of the monument.

According to my guidebook Meson de Candido was the place to go, but we wanted something a little less flashy. We opted for the equally good (with a mix of locals and tourists) Jose Maria. Reservations were recommended, but at lunch we didn’t find it necessary.

For food lovers, there’s another treat in Segovia one shouldn’t miss: having a meal at Restaurante Mesón de Cándido. Segovia is noted for its Castilian dishes, but one item on the menu that you shouldn’t miss is the “cochinillo asado” – roasted suckling pig.

A cualquiera que preguntemos por un restaurante donde comer un buen cochinillo, sin duda te remitirán al Mesón de Cándido. Un verdadero clásico dentro de la gastronomía segoviana y un referente en cuanto a desgustar comida tradicional. Foto: @mesondecandido

The plan I propose is that you take advantage of the good weather to sit on the terrace of the oldest restaurant in Segovia, the legendary Mesón de Cándido, where you can taste some of the most exquisite Segovian specialties.

Meson de Candido: Another tourist-loved classic for suckling pig, this location boasts one of the city’s best views as well. Ask for a table on the second floor and you can see the stunning aqueduct from almost any window!

Dine at Segovia’s most notable restaurant – the Candido Inn. This five-generation family has kept the tradition alive – the suckling pig!. This restaurant is well-known for this Segovia ritual.

Puerta de San Andres is a gate on the south side of the walls of Segovia. This used to be one of the gateways to the Jewish quarter in past. There is a tourist office close by.

Mesón de Cándido - A renowned restaurant known for its cochinillo asado. While it's a bit on the pricier side, the experience is worth it for a special occasion.

En el Mesón Cándido sirven el cochinillo en raciones individuales y en su página web puedes descubrir la receta para hacerla en casa cuando tengas invitados.